title: De novo designed peptides for biological applications.
abstract: In recent years our ability to design and assemble peptide-based materials and objects de novo (i.e. from first principles) has improved considerably. This brings us to a point where the resulting assemblies are quite sophisticated and amenable to engineering in new functions. Whilst such systems could be used in a variety of ways, biological applications are of particular interest because of the demand for biocompatible, readily produced systems with potential as drug-delivery agents, components of biosensors and scaffolds for 3D cell and tissue culture. This tutorial review describes the building blocks (or tectons) that are being used in peptide assembly, highlights a range of materials and objects that have been produced, notably hydrogels and virus-like particles, and introduces a number of potential applications for the designs.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantocks Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Aimee L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Derek N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Woolfson
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D015195:Drug Design; D020100:Hydrogels; D049329:Nanostructures; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D010455:Peptides; D003094:Collagen